Toy.



R. R. ESSIG.

TOY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1909. v

Patented 0013.26, 1909.

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UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

RALPH R. ESSIG, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHANAFELT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH RAYMOND Es- SIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in toys and the object thereof is to produce a toy embodying a spirally-formed upwardlyextending spindle on which is mounted a runner adapted to rotate about and descend thereon through the force of gravity, usually carrying overbalanced grotesque figures.

The invention further contemplates providing both ends of the spindle with a suitable base so that the device may be inverted and the runner travel alternately from end to end thereof.

A further and important object of this invention is to terminate the spiral portions of the spindle at points remote from the bases, leaving smooth portions, in order that the rapid rotary movement of the runner acquired in descending the spiral portions of the spindle may be kept up and maintained after the runner passes from engagement therewith and rests on one of the bases.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings, in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the different figures: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying this invention; and, Fig. 2 a transverse, sectional view of the runner.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 1 denotes an upright spindle, preferably constructed of two wires wound spirally about each other, but it may also be constructed in various other ways so long as it is provided with longitudinallyextending spiral convolutions. Both ends 2 of the spindle are preferably formed straight and free from the spiral configuration imparted to the balance thereof. Mounted on each end of the spindle is a base 3, preferably having a fiat under surface on which is an upwardly-extending portion terminating in a convex end 11 in which is an aperture into which the end of the spindle is inserted. By providing a base for each end of the spindle the latter maybe inverted. at will.

4 Mounted on the spindle 1 is a runner 4, preferably comprising a bar provided with a central aperture 5 covered by two convexedly-formed plates 7 held in place by holdfast devices 6, each provided with an opening 8 suitably fashioned to engage the spiral portion of the spindle 1. Projecting from the runner 4 are pins 9 mounted on which are figures 10, usually grotesque brownies or other similar objects, so hung as to be overweighted, with the pins above the centers thereof so that feet of the figures will always depend irrespective of the position of the runner 4:. The weight of the runner I and the figures 10 is suflicient to cause the former to descend the spindle by constantly rotating thereabout.

In use the device is placed upon some suitable supporting surface and the runner will by gravity travel down thespiral portion rapidly rotating around the same. When it reaches the lower terminus of the spiral portion of the spindle it will drop onto the upper convex end of the base 3 and the rapid rotation of the runner acquired by its descent will be continued until it gradually ceases, due to the friction of the under convex plate 7 against the upper convex end of the base. The position of the device is then reversed causing the runner to rengage the spiral portion of the spindle at the upper end thereof and the operation already described is repeated.

It will be obvious of course that when the device is reversed in position the figures 10 will right themselves so that they always stand in an erect position irrespective of the position of the runner.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A toy comprising an upright spindle having its intermediate portion spirally-formed and the ends straight, a base on each end of said spindle removed from the termini of the spiral portion and a runner on said spindle having a bearing engaging the spiral por- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set tion thereof adapted to permit the descent my hand 1n presence of two subscribing Witof said runner and impart a rotary movenesses. ment thereto, whereby When said runner RALPH R. ESSIG. passes from engagement with the spiral por- Witnesses:

tion of said spindle the rotary movement GLENARA Fox, thereof will be maintained. C. E. HUMPHREY. 

